Billiard-table



Patented May 23, 1893.

BILLIRD TABLE.

P. M. CUNNINGHAM.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES vlt'rlnvr OFFICE.

PATRICK M. CUNNINGHAM, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRUNSWICK-BALKE-COLLENDER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BILLiARo-TABL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersiPatent No. 498,049, dated May 23, 1893.

Application filed Juno 23, 1892. Serial No. 437,731. (No model.)

\ T0 all whom t 11i/ay concern,.-

Be it known that I, PATRICK M. CUNNING- HAM, of Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and usefullmprovement in Billiard- Tables; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

Previous to my invention bevel billiard tables have been made some times, and mostly, with wooden corner-blocks, each of which was finished up, exteriorly, so as to form a distinct and separate member of the design, or exterior configuration of the table body; and sometimes with the beveled broad-rails meeting at the four corners of` the table, so that the design, or exterior configuration, of the table body presented but the four members (composed of the four broad-rails) after the fashion somewhat of a picture frame in appearance. In all cases, however, in which the latter design, or appearance, has been produced, the construction of the table has been such as to comprise the combination with the meeting broad-rails at each corner of the table body, of a thin metallic plate interposed between the mitered ends of the broad-rails, and having formed integrally with it a horizontal plate-like portion for securelnent in place, in afirm manner, of the tableleg; while in all cases in which the former design of table has been produced, wooden corner blocks have been employed. Such Wooden cornerblocks are not, however, adapted to the construction of a bevel table of the first named pattern, or design, and the construction of the same, with metallic plates and with the meeting and mitered ends of the broad-rails bolted together as heretofore, is seriously defective and objectionable in a practical point of view, mainlyon account of the liability of the broadrails to warp and get out of perfect shape at the vicinity of the mitered joints, at the table corners.

My invention has for its main object to provide for use billiard tables of that style, or pattern, in which the broad-rails meet at the corners of the body, thus making a design involving only four members (a style of table `much admired and Wanted), which shall be better and more durably constructed than any heretofore manufactured; and to this main end and object my invention lnay be said to consist, essentially, in the combination, with the, meeting, broad-rails, of a bevel table, of woodencorner-blocks arranged interiorly of the broad rails, and permanently united, in pairs, to the end broad-rai1s; the side broad-rails being bolted to said pairs of corner-blocks, and thereby held in union with `perfect miter joints, with the mitered ends of the end broad-rails; all as will be hereinafter more fully explained, and as willbe more par-` ticularly pointed out in the claim of this specitication.

To enable those skilled in the art to which my invention relates to fully understand and practice the same, l will now proceed to more fully describe the same refering by letters to the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification, and in which I have shown my invention carried out in precisely the form in which I have, so far, practically applied it, in the manufacture of bevel tables.

In the drawings, Figure 1, is a top view of so much of the body-portion of a table as is necessary to be shown, to fully illustrate my novel construction. Fig..2, is a vertical cross section of the same, at the line or, of Fig. l. Fig. 3, is a section at the line y, y, of Fig. l, taken in aline parallel with the oblique plane of the side broad-rail.

In the several figures the same part will be found always designated by the same reference letter.

A is the wooden corner block, which is made, of course, with the grain of the stock running about horizontally, so that its upper surface may be Hush with the top surfaces of the broad-rails and will remain so during any shrinkage of parts of the table body. Preferably, this corner-block A is composed of a series of thicknesses of wood, disposed in horizontal planes, and glued together, and I also prefer to make it Without any joint, at the angle, or corner, l). t

C is one of the end broad-rails which, as shown, is glued fast to one oblique exterior surface of the block A, and has its end cut on a perfect miter (of forty-five degrees) that IOO starts, at its inner edge, on a line perfectly coincident With the oblique corner, or outer angle, of the block A; While D is one ot the side broad-rails. This rail D has its end cut to form a perfect n1eeting,on a miter joint, with the end of rail C, and it is provided with an interiorly arranged block, or projecting portion, E, through which pass two (more, orless) bolts f, f, the inner threaded 'ends of which engage with nuts g, g, that are let into the corner block A, all as plainly indicated in the drawings.

The corner block is provided, about as usual with other forms of Wooden cornerblock, with a reinforcing angle block G, and

a bottom block l-l, the latter of which rests on top of one of the corner legs of the table, and through both of which passes the usual leg bolt, or screw rod. Through theblock l-I passes a horizontal bolt I, the inner, threaded, end of which engages With a nut let into the lo'Wer portion ofthe side, road-railD, the function ot' which bolt is to aid in effecting a perfectly firm and durable retention, in relative position, of the said broad-rail and the cornerblockAA.

The initered endA of the rail Dis provided, preferably, with a short tenen, located about centrally of the rail as to the thickness of the latter, and running nearly the Whole Width of the rail, end Which tenon engages With a perfect fit, a `mortise in `the mitered end of the rail C; the office of l'said mortise and tenon, on these parts, being to insure theretention, in the desired relative position, of lthe parts coniposingthe niiter joint between the side and the end broad-rails. In lieu of said tenon and mortise, a series of do'wels may be used, but

I have'found the special construction shov'vn to be, in practice, the better one.

It will be seen lthat in a table of the design shown and described,I ain enabled, bythe construction shown, to render the table, when put together, or set up for use, capable of better maintaining itself, under all circumstances, in the perfected condition (as the miter joints at the corners of the body) in which the table is made, or turned out of the factory, than is possible in the case of tables of this style as heretofore constructed; because the, abutting, rniterY ends of the broad rails can be drawn and held together with a perfect and enduring iit.v The lnitered end surfaces of the broad-rails having been perfectly fitted together, and provided with the mortise and tenon (or the equivalent thereof) these parts are drawn and held together in forcible contact by the bolts f, f, so that an absolutely perfect and enduring joint is formed. There is no possible danger of any opening of the joint after the table has been set up for any length of time, since the Wooden parts bolted together have the grains running in the direction of the securing bolts, Which, in setting up the table, force and hold the parts together undery considerable strain, or pressure, endvvise of themselves, and of the grains of the wooden parts thus clamped together.

Variations in the sizes, proportions, and minor details inay, of course, beniade Without departing troni ther Aspirit of my nvention, the gist of which lies in the idea of a table of the style, or pattern, set forth,- having Wooden corner-blocks arranged ivholly interioly of the table body, and secured pei-'nianently, in pairs, to the end broad-rails, and having the side rails bolted thereto, and niitered to lthe ends of the end rails; in siibstantially the manner described.

What l therefore cl'ainl as ne\v,nd desire to secure by Letters` l atent, i's'- In a billiard table of that design in which the bodycol'np'rises only four, broad-rail, 'r'ne'nbers, `tlie con1bination,with said broad-rails, of wooden corner-blocks located Within the body of the table; pernianently Iseciired,i1`i

pairs, to the end fails; and having the' side' railsbolted4 thereto and niter'ed to the end rails; all substantially as h'erei'nbefore rset forth.

In witness whereof I Iliavehereunto set iny hand this 14th day of May, 1892.

P. lvl. CUNNINGHAM.

In presence of HOFFMANN BEACH', M. E. FOXTEN. 

